Salisbury, NC- The Livingstone College men's basketball team dropped an 87-63 decision to Catawba College on Monday night inside William Trent Gymnasium.

The Blue Bears struggled to find rhythm early, scoring just 22 points in the first half while Catawba built a 37-22 lead heading into the break. Despite a stronger second half where Livingstone put up 41 points, the Indians' hot shooting and dominance on the boards proved too much to overcome.

Catawba shot 46.2% from the field and scored 31 second-chance points, fueled by a 54-37 rebounding advantage. Jordan Simpson led all scorers with 20 points, while Justin Banks added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

For Livingstone, Kenneth Tyree Jr. paced the Blue Bears with 12 points, while James Nipper added 10 points and seven rebounds. Mohammed Mbye provided a spark off the bench with 8 points, including two three-pointers.

The Blue Bears return home Thursday, Jan. 8, for a doubleheader against Virginia State University. Tip-off for the men's game is set for 7:30pm.